UCLA first-year coach Mora settling into rivalry against USC

Nov. 11, 2012

Updated Aug. 21, 2013 1:17 p.m.

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UCLA's Jim Mora will be coaching against USC for the first time Saturday. "It's really unlike anything I've ever seen," he said of the schools' rivalry, "whether it be pro sports or college sports." ARMANDO BROWN, FOR THE REGISTER

UCLA's Jim Mora will be coaching against USC for the first time Saturday. "It's really unlike anything I've ever seen," he said of the schools' rivalry, "whether it be pro sports or college sports." ARMANDO BROWN, FOR THE REGISTER

LOS ANGELES - Before accepting his current job with UCLA last December, Jim Mora hadn't been associated with a college football team since 1985 - his first and last year as a graduate assistant at Washington, his alma mater.

Mora's coaching pedigree was one rooted in the pro game, and since returning to a college campus there have been some necessary adjustments and even some growing pains for the longtime football coach.

One of those adjustments has been understanding the magnitude of college rivalries - an area where he's modestly acknowledged this year that he's still learning. This week, however, with UCLA's greatest rival on tap and a Pac-12 South title on the line, Mora will need to learn fast.

Asked on his weekly teleconference Sunday whether he has begun to "grasp" the UCLA-USC rivalry, he laughed, assuring that his education on the matter is still ongoing. But with the Bruins in their best spot in a long time heading into USC week, Mora said all the right things in his first foray into questions on the rivalry.

"It's really unlike anything I've ever seen, whether it be pro sports or college sports," Mora said. "In pro sports ... I was trying to think about a rivalry that we have in pro football in all my time there, and I don't know that there's ever one that's of the significance of the one that we have versus USC.

"Then, I went back and I thought about when I was at University of Washington, our two main rivals were Washington and Oregon, but they were both hundreds of miles away, not 12 miles away or whatever the distance is. It's just so unique to have such a division in a city like we have here. ... It's pretty special."

That being said, Mora won't make any special concessions this week, he assured. The team's practices won't be altered, even with plenty of Bruins on the injury report, and he will do his best, he said, to treat it like any other game.

Even he knows how futile downplaying the rivalry will be though, especially given what's on the line when USC comes to the Rose Bowl on Saturday.

"I think you try to (downplay it)," Mora said. "But I think it's obvious that it's a little bit different, just given the fact that these two universities sit so close together and this is a game that has a lot of ramifications in terms of a chance to go to the Pac-12 championship game. I know that we'll do all we can to keep this week as normal as possible, knowing that there will be some extra attention placed on this game."

DEFENDING BARKLEY

After allowing the Washington State air raid to fire its way back into Saturday's game - putting up 457 yards and five touchdowns against the Bruins - concerns about UCLA's secondary will likely be at a premium this week, given the Bruins' upcoming opponent under center.

USC's Matt Barkley hasn't had the season many expected from him as the preseason favorite to win the Heisman trophy and go No. 1 in the next NFL draft. The former Mater Dei High quarterback has thrown 13 interceptions, just one short of the career-high mark he set during his freshman season and the most of any quarterback in the Pac 12 this season.

But that doesn't change the respect Mora gives to USC's senior quarterback.

"He's been very well-coached," Mora said. "He's a very smart player. I've always thought that the elements that make a quarterback great are decision-making ability, accuracy, mobility, arm strength, leadership, those things; I think he's got all of those, and he demonstrates them again and again and again.

"He's a tremendous decision-maker. He throws the ball on time with accuracy. He can make all the throws. ... You add the experience that he's got and the big-game experience he's got, and he's very poised. He's seen just about everything there is to see at this level."

UNI WATCH

No official announcement has been made about whether the Bruins and Trojans will both wear home jerseys Saturday, a tradition that has long been customary in the rivalry.

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